Goals from Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez gave City a well-deserved win against QPR at the Etihad Stadium, although there were nervous moments for the Blues.

It was certainly less dramatic than the last time QPR visited Manchester and just like the final day of last season, Roberto Mancini’s made hard work of a game that they dominated from start to finish.

Dzeko had two chances to put City in front before Yaya Toure finally did, reacting first to a loose ball in the box to fire past Robert Green after a corner.

But QPR grabbed an unlikely equaliser just before the hour-mark when Joe Hart did well to keep out Andy Johnson’s effort only to see Bobby Zamora head in the rebound from close range.

In May, Dzeko’s equaliser set up a dramatic final act from Sergio Aguero. The Bosnian was on target again this time, heading in Tevez’s cross at the near post after 61 minutes in an almost instant response to QPR's goal.

The excellent Tevez wrapped up the three points in stoppage time when he diverted Dzeko’s shot past Green.

Deadline day signings

Scott Sinclair was the only one of City's five deadline day signings to make their squad but did not get off the bench.

City, watched by Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho ahead of their Champions League meeting, soon established control with Toure bossing the midfield.

QPR survived a scare in the first minute when Dzeko, starting for the first time this season, glanced a header wide from a corner.

The Bosnian went even closer as he was first to meet another corner but this time Fabio da Silva, on loan from Manchester United, did well to hack off the line.

The City pressure continued as Rangers were starved of possession and an Aleksandar Kolarov cross almost fell for Jack Rodwell after a touch from Tevez.

QPR's first opportunity came from a City mistake as Rodwell overhit a backpass and the ball dropped over his own bar for a corner. The visitors were unable to capitalise.

It seemed inevitable City would take the lead and their opener came in the 16th minute as Tevez saw an effort blocked from yet another corner but Toure followed up to thump home.Green got a hand to it but could do little on what was shaping up to be a difficult afternoon for him.

David Silva, who was displaying some of his form of last season, tricked his way into the QPR box and dug the ball out from under his feet to force Green to save and Samir Nasri was unable to follow up.

City returned for the second half with much the same approach as the first and threatened a second straight from the restart as Tevez drilled an awkward shot at Green.

The tireless Pablo Zabaleta, probably knowing new signing Maicon might be after his place, went even closer as he took a fine pass from Silva and curled an effort onto the bar.

Yet as much as they were dominant, recent history threatened to repeat itself as QPR levelled against the run of play just before the hour.

Johnson stole possession outside the area and forced a good save from Hart with a deflected shot. Hart could not recover his footing quick enough to regather and Zamora stole in to head home.

Yet in contrast to last May, City began their reply earlier and without falling behind.

They swiftly moved back up the field and Tevez did well to keep the ball in play and cross for Dzeko to head home at close range.

It should have been the sign for City to wrap up the game but despite continuing to carve out chances - Dzeko twice shooting only to be flagged offside - it remained a slender lead.

There were definite signs of nerves when Granero whipped in a free-kick and Ryan Nelsen narrowly failed to touch in at the far post.

City wrapped up the job in injury time as Tevez, moving back into an onside position, diverted the ball home from Dzeko's shot.

After apparently being told off for lifting his shirt in recent weeks, he kept it down this time.